Officials said Cranley will be backed by a majority of council and minority contractors.

Cranley said The Horseshoe Casino and 3CDC were great examples of hiring minorities.

3CDC said in the re-make of Washington Park 18 percent of the work was performed by minority-owned companies.

In a recent estimate, the minority inclusion at the dunnhumby site downtown will be more than 20 percent, 3CDC said.

"Look, a community is only as strong as its weakest link and to the extent that we can support those who are unemployed or under-employed or businesses that are just trying to get off the ground, as we strengthen them the whole community strengthens," 3CDC CEO Steve Leeper said.